46th Senate District ballots being counted again

By Ariel Zangla

Saturday, December 15, 2012

KINGSTON -- Boards of Elections in four of the five counties that make up the state's new 46th Senate District opened paper ballots Friday in the ongoing effort to determine the winner of the race between Republican George Amedore and Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk.

In Ulster County, 198 ballots were opened and counted, according to Democratic Elections Commissioner Vic Work. He said 128 votes went to Tkaczyk, while Amedore received 55.

"They do not add up to 198 as there were several blank ballots for (the) state Senate column and at least three void ballots," Work explained.

He also said there still are more than 300 challenged ballots that could be opened if there is an appeal by either candidate.

Paper ballots in Albany, Schenectady and Montgomery Counties were also opened on Friday. Greene County will resume opening and counting ballots on Monday.

In the meantime, the ballots will remain under lock and key, Work said.

Although Amedore's camp filed a stay in state Supreme Court earlier this week to prevent the counting of challenged ballots, acting state Supreme Court Judge Guy Tomlinson ruled that the ballot opening and review process could go forward on Thursday.

With all machine, absentee and affidavit ballots in the district counted, Amedore led Tkaczyk by 110 votes out of some 126,000 cast, but there were nearly 900 challenged ballots to be considered.

The 46th Senate District comprises parts of Ulster, Albany and Schenectady counties and all of Greene and Montgomery counties.